HBO’s record-breaking premiere of the much-awaited Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon attracted 10 million viewers. Set around two centuries before the events of the original Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon is inspired by legendary fiction writer George R.R. Martin’s fictional history of House Targaryen in the book Fire & Blood.

The show’s creators, Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnik have assembled a stellar ensemble that entails the likes of Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Milly Alcock, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, and Graham McTavish.

HBO has been planning other Game of Thrones storylines way before the conclusion of the original series, but the HOD become the only one to see the light of the day. There was significant discussion concerning whether the spinoff miniseries would be as successful as the original before it premiered.

Once the most popular program on cable, Game of Thrones last season received mostly poor reviews. It was therefore unclear whether or not it would cause some people to avoid seeing House of the Dragon. As far as we can tell from the initial results, it hasn’t.

House of the Dragon Hits the 9 Million Mark

According to HBO’s latest numbers, the premiere of House of the Dragon attracted a total of 9.986 million people throughout the world which is much higher compared to the around 8 million audiences the original Game of Thrones garnered in 2011. House of the Dragon nonetheless succeeded to have a phenomenal premiere, notwithstanding a handful of recorded downtime and problems for certain people.

Positive buzz and critical acclaim have been spreading prior to the launch, and the program has been trending on every major social media site. HBO and HBO Max Executive Content Manager Casey Bloys had this to say about the show’s groundbreaking premiere:

It was wonderful to see millions of ‘Game of Thrones’ fans return with us to Westeros last night. ‘House of the Dragon’ features an incredibly talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into the production, and we’re ecstatic with viewers’ positive response. We look forward to sharing with audiences what else George, Ryan, and Miguel have in store for them this season.

House of the Dragon Might Span for 3-4 Seasons 

House of the Dragon’s first run would consist of 10 episodes, and more seasons will undoubtedly ensue, with the present narrative likely spanning at least three to four seasons.

However, the creators have said that the present plot line will come to a conclusion and that House of the Dragon might be used as a springboard for future tales set under the Targaryen dynasty.

Considering the magnitude of Martin’s novel, which begins three hundred years prior to the Game of Thrones and continues until its conclusion, it is possible that House of the Dragon may last longer compared to its predecessor, thanks to its impressive premiere and renewed enthusiasm in the Game of Thrones world.

The high ratings may be due to curiosity rather than sustained interest in the show following its launch. House of the Dragon must now work to keep its newfound fan base.

Many viewers were saddened by the series’ conclusion, but the show’s expansive world won widespread adoration over its eight seasons on the air. If House of the Dragon continues to draw as many watchers for the remainder of its sprint, it will certainly set the stage for other Game of Thrones storylines to have a head start on the competition.